The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-15
Women Who Gamble.

Women Who Gamble.
There are two casinos ut Aix-les-
Bains, and consequently two gam
ling saloons and two sets Of little
horses. The more Hserious" of the
two casinos, the Cercle dAix.les-
Bains. has replaced the former In
ferior salle de jeu with new and
suinptuous apartment, which fair
ly rivals that of the gay resort of
the place, POLITICALLY and signif-
cantly denominated the Villa des
Fleurs. The Villa DIES Fleurs Is
"fast" and though ladies often wan.
der In there out Of curiosity, 1t Is
scarcely the place to which any
self-respecting young woman of to-
day would take her own mother
AS often happens the surround
i1gs are prettier and more fascinat-
ing than those of the Cercle. Only
man is vile. The two Casinos
though taking in about 100000
francs apiece each season, are not
supposed to make much money and
do not declare dividends. They
are philanthropic institutions, de-
signed for the amusement of the
populace. The salaries of an ope-
ratio and theatrical troup and of
a band and orchestra, the cost of
fireworks and Of Improvements
are presumed to eat up the profits
of the restaurants, the performan-
ces and the gambling tables. The
Cercle d'Aix-les Bains pays Col
!onne a really enormous figure for
the services of himself and orches-
ira, one Of the finest in Europe, but
tits hard to believe that money is
not made over and above expenses
ut the Villa DIES Fleurs, where ex-
penditure on the part of the public
Is lavish and where the gamble
for high stakes.
The gaming table is far more
liberal place than the table d'hote
for in the sale de jeu, respectable
but curious matrons rub shoulders
with frisky and painted young per-
sons, who would never be allowed
to dine in their company at the ho-
tel. One becomes used to every
thing. and existence in a continent.
al watering place soon accustoms
Americans and English to the
spectacle of dutchess putting
down a 10-franc piece side by side
with the golden louise of a cocotte,
and of a respectable church-going
citizen of the United States rub
bling shoulders at cards with cut
throat adyenturer. A celebrated
English singer and a well known
commedian, American by birth
English by reputation, fairly haunts
the green cloth, replacing the ex-
citement of active life before the
foot-lights with the hopes and fears
that hang upon a nine spot. The
most desperate gambler at Aix-les
Bains is however a woman a Greek
by birth. This devotee of the green
cloth does not take her seat at the
table on account of her sex, but
plays over the shoulders of sterner
man in one hundred franc bills,
and she risks 500 hundred with the
same impertuability that she might
put down 100 sous. This woman
who is immensely rich. has face
that painter might take as un-
lovely model. The expression is
that of ferrett, and the rat-like
cQuntenance has it's resemblance to
rodent intensified by q nervous
twiching of the tightly compressed
thin lips and the conical chin. The
small eyes stare from under mass
of grizzled gray hair; the skin is
red and guiltless of the softening
application of anything like poudre
de riz. This celebrity, who changes
from the rabbles of the Cercle d.
Aix-les-Baines to those of the Vii
Ia des Fleurs and back again, does
not pay much. attention to her cos
tune. 1t consists of a black dress
not too well made; a black jet bon
net, and, like the true gambler that
she is, no gloves. While she plays
she keeps shifting and counting
the white and blue franc notes.
when called upon to give a chance,
she takes gold from a purse: but as
a rule she despises the metal and
deals only in paper.
Fight With Il Rather.